Method of and apparatus fob collecting telegeaph messages



Feb. 3, 1931. 1 s ow 1,791,015 METHOD O'F AND APPARATUS FOR COLLECTING"TELEGRAPH MESSAGES Filed 001:. 2, 1929 INVENTOR BY JOHN F. SKIRROWATTORNEY if Patented Feb. 3, 1931 rmsigma PAT ENT: OFFICE JOHN SKIR-ROW,on so T-n ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, Assxenoa T POSTAL TELEA GRAPH-CABLECOMPANY, EN W YORK, N. Y.,.A CORPORATION on NEW YORK M'ETH'on or ANDAPrAnArns Foe connnoa'me TELEGRAPH MESSA ES application fi1ed' 0ctober2;1929. Serial No. 396,710.

This invention relatesto a method of and apparatus for collectingtelegraph messages. All existing methods of filing telegrams with atelegraph company have some disadvantages.

senger, time is lost while the messenger is on his way for the messageand returning with it to the telegraph oii'ice. f the message istelephoned to the telegraph office, it takes 3 thetime of the customeror an employee at each end of the line until the message is completed,and there is alwaysla possibility of error in copying the message; i Ifa printing telegraphis used-by the sender of a message, there is theexpense of maintaining the machine and thesalary of an operator to beconsidered and also danger of errors due to the machine'or the operator.1

One object of this invention-is to overcome these diiiiculties in so faras large buildings are concerned. I

Another object is a rapid and accurate system for forwarding telegramsfrom a sender to a central office or branch office with a minimum ofexpense.

Another object is a remotely controlled electrically operating lockingmechanism for a mailing chute.

In order to do so, a chute of suitable dimen- 30 alone is installed in abuilding extending from the upper part of the building and tenniuatingat an oilice in the basement which will be in charge of an attendant. 1'-This olfice will be provided with transmitting and receiving pneumatictubes connecting with a central or branch telegraph office. Openings inthe chutes with hinge covers are provided on each floor. The chute lidsmay be provided with locks, and keys may be furnished to customers, butthe preferred methodwould be to control the locking of the chute lids byan electric circuit from the basement, and in this way there would be nodanger of messages.

being deposited in the tube when the oflice is closed. Means areprovided for operating a signal circuit when any lid is opened in orderto notify the attendant that a message has been deposited in the tubeand to indicate the particular lid which was opened. message reachesthe'oflice in the basement the If the customer calls for a mes- When theattendant can operate a signal associated with the particular box openedto assure the customer that the message has been received.

In the drawings comprising but a single sheet of five figures, numberedFig. 1 to5 inclusive one embodiment of the invention isillustrated. i

Fig. 1 is a detailed view of a sectionof the building chute.

Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of one embodiment of the system fromsubscriber. to centralofiice'. I r

Sis a schematic circuit diagram of an electrically controlled chute lidlocking device.- 7 I.

Fig. 4 is a schematic circuit'diagram of the. visible signal circuit.

Fig. 5 is a detailed View of'the' building chuteat the basementoflicetogether with its associatedvisible and audible signa-l'circuitswLike reference characters designate correspondingparts throughout theseveral figures.

7 Referring to Figs'l 9 is the telegram chute, 11 is abox arrange mentbuilt around an opening in 9. There will be oneof these openings on eachfloor. A cover 10 is hinged at 13, and when opened, permits access tothe interior of the" chute-- A lamp cap 12 is inserted in the side ofthe box 11.' Printed directions for operating thechute'gor the. addressand telephone number of the nearest telegraphoflice in case-the flute islocked, may be indicated on. the plate Referring to Figs. 1, 2'and 4,when a-sub- .scriber desires to forward the typewritten" and 2 ofthedrawings, I

nunciator 40 indicates one of a series of addi tionalannunciatorsassociated with various floors in the ofiice building;operatedin the same manner. When the do posited message 57 reaches thelower end of;

which may be the chute 9, it will trip a tilting table 54, pivoted at;55, permitting contacts 58 and 59 to be closed by spring 52. This willcomplete sage has passed down the chute, and the annunciators 38 and 40serve to indicate which particular lid (or lids) 10 has been opened.l/Vhen the message is actually received at the basement office theattendant presses the button connected with the floor where the mes-:sage was deposited to close a circuit through an indicating lamp 2'? tonotify the customer that the message has been received in the basementtelegraph office.

Referring to Fig. 2, an incoming and out-' going pneumatic tube system18 and 19 connects the basement ofiice with a convenient branchtelegraph or cable, central oiiice 76. Tubes may be provided to severaldifferent offices if preferred dependent upon tran'ic conditions, thatis whether the basementoihce has direct access to a cable ofiice asdistinguished from a land telegraph oiiice. The received messages arepassed over the operators desk 7 4 having .a telegraph line leadingtherefrom to a distant point not shown.

In Fig. 3 a circuit arrangement is shown by which lids 10 may be lockedor unlocked by the attendant. Battery 45 is connected with the centre ofa pole changing switch 44. A polar relay 25 is associated with eachchute opening. The armature of this relay is adapted to rest in eitherof two positions depending on the direction of the current flowingthrough its coil 25 which iscontrolled by switch 44. The armature 24 ispivoted at '26 and carries an L shaped projection which in one positionwill engage anotched projection 77, attached to lid 10and lock the liddown. .When the current is reversed V in the coil of the relay, the Lshaped projection 24 will clear the notched projection 77 and the lid 10of the box 11 may then be opened: Relay 25' is connected with the pole.changing switch through conductors 43' and'46 I What is claimed is v 1.In a telegraph message collection system and in combination a'subscribers mail};

.ing receptacle a forwarding oili'ce, a mail chute connecting themailing receptacle with the forwarding ofiice for conductingand deliveringmessages deposited in the mailing receptacle to the forwardingoifice, a polarizedv relay associated with said mailing receptacleoperable to lock the same against use, and

means at the forwarding' station for operating said polarized relay.

2. In a mailing chute receptacle and in combination a door" operable topermit access to the mailing chute,; and means including a polarizedrelay operable to lock and unlock said door.

3. In a mailing-chute receptacle and in combination a door operable topermit access to the mailing chute, a polarized relay controlling meansfor locking said door and remotely controlled circuit means foroperatingsaid relay.

'4. In a telegraph message collection system, a chute for transmittingmessages said chute having a plurality of subscribers mailingreceptacles and forwarding station to which said chute extends, signalsat said forwarding station and said subscribers stations for selectivelysignalling the deposit and'receipt respectively of a message, apneumatic tube system at said forwarding station for retransmitting thereceived message to a telegraph oflice, a polarized relay associatedwith each subscribers receptacle operable to lock the same against useand means at said forwarding station for operating said relay.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 27th day ofSeptember, 1929.

JOHN F. SKIRRO'W.

